FIBA Order Fresh Elections Into Crisis-Ridden NBBF Board

By Johnny Edward: Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) have called for a fresh election into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Crisis in the NBBF began last year when two factional leaders Musa Kida and Tijani Umar emerged as President from two separate elections.

Kida emerged as President of the NBBF in the general elections into all sports federations in Nigeria organised by the Nigerian sports ministry at the Grand Ibro Hotel, Abuja and supervised by the Nigeria Olympic Committee Secretary, Tunde Popoola, and a sports ministry director Hauwa Kulu.

Umar, on his part, emerged President of the NBBF from an election held in Kano a day prior to the general election held in Abuja.

According to a letter signed by FIBA’s Secretary General, Patrick Bauman, and addressed to NBBF secretary, Chimezie Asiegbu, Musa Kida, Tijani Umar and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, FIBA noted that both elections in Kano and Abuja respectively failed to meet the general statutes of the global body.

The letter stated that the election held in Kano on the 12th of June, 2017 which ushered Umar as President did not comply with the article 9.3 of the FIBA statutes.

While the election in Abuja that saw Kida take over the reins failed to adhere to article 9.7 of the FIBA statutes.

“The statutes and regulation of national members must comply with the General statutes and Internal Regulations of FIBA,” the letter from FIBA noted.

“The General Statutes and internal Regulations of FIBA shall form part of the national member federations’ statutes and regulations. In the event of doubt or conflict the General Statutes and Internal Regulation of FIBA will prevail.”

While Article 9.7 of the FIBA statutes states that: “National members of the federation shall manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties. In particular they must ensure that their officials are either elected or appointed under a democratic process for a term of office for four (4) years. Their statutes must provide a transparent procedure that guarantees the complete independence of election or appointment.”

FIBA through the letter to the warring parties also stated that a new date for election will be announced but until then they will be communicating with the Kida-led board.

“FIBA will determine when the NBBF statutes are compliant per the above and reserves the right to oversee parts or the entirety of the elections process,” the letter continued.

“Communication still to be maintained with Musa Kida, Babatunde Ogunade and Chimezie Asiegbu until such time as the new elections are held as per our letter of 26 July, 2017.”